Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer is turning up on many best books lists for the year. Siddhartha Mukherjee is a cancer physician and researcher who teaches students and treats patients at Columbia University Medical Center. He tells a riveting story of cancer that reads like a medical thriller. From its first documented appearance to the relentless pursuit for a cure, this book is about hope and provides clarity to anyone wanting to understand this mystifying disease.

November 30th marks the 175th birthday of Samuel Langhorne Clemens. His nom de plume is Mark Twain, one of America's greatest novelists. He was born in Missouri and he lived near the Mississippi River which inspired him to write. Mr. Bob Nelson has graciously shared his collection of first editions of his Mark Twain novels; almost all of them printed between 1876-1896. Please stop by the showcase located near Lucky Day. We are indeed very lucky to display this rare collection!

Please join our book group in Group Study Room A on Monday, November 15th, from 7:00-8:00PM for an interesting and lively discussion of this month's selection, City of Dreams by Beverly Swerling. The early history of Manhattan is chronicled through six generations of a remarkable clan of surgeons, physicians and apothecaries.

Waiting for "Superman" — A powerful and passionate documentary, Waiting for Superman makes the case for fixing the public school system and elevating that goal as the national's highest priority. Read the review in Entertainment Weekly.

My fave pet books and what I can't wait to read

Marley and me : life and love with the world's worst dog by John Grogan

Dewey : the small-town library cat who touched the world by Vicki Myron ; with Bret Witter

Homer's odyssey : a fearless feline tale, or how I learned about love and life with a blind wonder cat by Gwen Cooper

Get your weekly dose of The Doctors. The Emmy Award-winning team from daytime TV will appear every Sunday in the USA Weekend. Dr. Jim Sears, Dr. Andrew Ordon, Dr. Lisa Masterson and Dr. Travis Stork each have their own HealthSmart columns that shares helpful tips for a healthy lifestyle. Also, check out their newest book, The Doctors 5-Minute Health Fixes.

Wonder what your dog is doing while you're not home? Puppy Tweets is a dog tag that attaches to your pet's collar. It sends messages via a USB receiver to your computer. You can follow your dog's Twitter feed all day long. And teach your old dog some new tricks with one of our latest books in the pet collection, 50 Tricks to Teach Your Dog.